Vancouver’s Missy D and Tonye Aganaba to open the new year with concert celebrating local talent

Missy D and Tonye Aganaba are two artists whose unique voices and bold perspectives are an important part of our city’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. Vancouver is home to so many incredible musicians and artists, and they deserve to be celebrated! We are committed to making space for those voices—and what better way to begin than with the uplifting music of Missy and Tonye.

Jarrett Martineau, Curator-in-Residence of the Chan Centre

Missy D is a fearless bilingual “femcee” whose roots span Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Zimbabwe. Rapping since the age of 11, Missy D has been making waves with her genre of “Rap & Soul,” blending hip hop, R&B, soul, jazz, and rock. Drawing inspiration from legends like Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill, Missy D’s music is a form of therapy and empowerment, seamlessly transitioning between French and English. A member of Vancouver’s Laydy Jams, Missy D has performed at festivals like SXSW and Rifflandia, and has shared the stage with icons such as Anderson .Paak, and Jully Black. This past year, she was named “Francophone Artist of the Year” by the Western Canadian Music Awards. For her Chan Centre debut, she’ll bring crowd favorites like “Yes Mama” and “Case Départ,” as well as new hits like “J’avance,” all leading up to the release of her highly anticipated 2025 project La Poursuite.

Tonye Aganaba is a queer, disabled, and non-binary multi-disciplinary artist with ancestral ties to Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Blending soul, funk, hip-hop, and R&B into a fluid and expressive style, Aganaba’s music is grounded in vulnerability and connection, creating transformative experiences for listeners. When not on stage, they work with local collectives like Defund 604 Network and Ethọ́s Lab to create safer spaces for marginalized communities and promote social justice. Their performances are intimate, deeply personal journeys that invite audiences to explore their own connections to vulnerability and healing. Aganaba’s artistry and activism have made them a key fixture in Vancouver’s arts community.

The Chan Centre is committed to reflecting the diversity of its community and is thrilled to provide a platform for local talent. Both Missy D and Tonye Aganaba are elevating BC’s music scene and the Chan Centre is honored to showcase their talents.